When
: Friday, June 7th - Sunday, June 9th
Where
: Harvard University and Boston University in Boston
Summer Games is the final state tournament of the spring season for track and field, swimming, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, and powerlifting athletes from across Massachusetts. After three months of training and mid-season qualifying tournaments, more than 2,000 athletes are ready to compete for gold!
1,800 volunteers are needed for the largest Special Olympics MA event of the year! A variety or roles and shifts are available to keep time, keep score, guide athletes to their races, hand out awards, socialize at Olympic Town, help with event set up and logistics, photograph, and more!
|
|
Boston Bruins Banner Captains
|
|
The
Boston Bruins Foundation and Special Olympics Massachusetts are working together to promote our organizations' shared values of inclusion, health and wellness, and instilling confidence.
This postseason, you may have seen familiar faces of Special Olympics athletes who have been fan banner captains!
Follow along the rest of the playoffs and see who the next Special Olympics Banner Captain will be!
|
|
Cape Cod Track and Field Qualifying Tournament
|
|
When
: Saturday, May 18th
Where
: Barnstable High School on Cape Cod
The Cape Cod Track and Field Qualifying Tournament is the largest event of the year on Cape Cod! Hundreds of volunteers are needed to support local track and field athletes as they compete in their first tournament of the season. No previous experience is required to volunteer. Instructions are provided at the event so you can keep time at the finish line, measure how far athletes jump in the long jump, measure how far athletes throw a javelin, guide athletes to their races, hand out awards, and be a fan!
|
|
Brockton Young Athletes Event
|
|
When
: Friday, May 24th
Where
: Brockton
More than 400 young athletes in Brockton Public Schools will participate in a fun day of sports and inclusion.
Young Athletes is a sport and play program for athletes ages 2-7 years. The program provides an early introduction to sports and the world of Special Olympics while focusing on fun activities important to physical and mental growth. Volunteers are needed to work with Young Athletes at a variety of sports stations to teach athletes new sports skills in a fun, positive, and inclusive day of sports!
|
|
Run with Special Olympics
|
|
The
Xtra Mile team is raising awareness, raising funds, and spreading the mission of inclusion across the state of Massachusetts. Join Xtra Mile by signing up for race and run for Special Olympics!
Sunday, May 26th
5 mile or half-marathon
Saturday, June 1st
5k (3.1 miles)
Sunday, August 18th
7 miles
|
|
Summer Team Opportunities
|
When
: June through August 25th
Where
: Numerous towns throughout Massachusetts
Figuring out your summer plans? How about joining a local sports team this summer! Bocce, cycling, golf, sailing, and softball teams are already looking ahead to starting practices in June. This summer, we also have new basketball teams who are training! Attend weekly practices, compete at two tournaments, and have fun being on a team this summer!
|
Lead your team and teach the rules and skills of the sport at weekly practices and at competitions. Must be 18 years or older and have experience with the sport.
- Bocce in Shrewsbury, Tuesday evenings
- Golf in Grafton, Thursday evenings
- Basketball in Stoughton, Sundays 10:30am-12:00pm
- Basketball in Taunton, Sundays 11:00am-12:00pm
- Basketball in East Bridgewater, Tuesdays or Fridays 6:00pm-7:00pm
Assist the head coach at weekly practices. Experience level and specific tasks vary for each team. Must be 16 or older.
- Cycling in Belmont, Mondays 6:30pm-7:30pm
- Bocce in Framingham, Thursdays 6:00pm-7:00pm
- Bocce in Norwood, Sunday afternoons
|
|
Summer events are being finalized and athletes will need your volunteer support this summer!
Mark your calendars and save the date, with many more events to be added:
- Saturday, July 20th in Easthampton for the regional Softball Qualifying Tournament
- Saturday, July 20th in Westfield for the regional Bocce Qualifying Tournament
- Saturday, July 27th in Canton for the regional Bocce Qualifying Tournament
- Saturday, July 27th in Bellingham for the regional Softball Qualifying Tournament
- Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th in Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, and Stow for Tournament of Champions, the final state tournament for softball, bocce, cycling, and golf.
|
|
Question:
"When is Special Olympics?"
Answer: "
Every day!"
Special Olympics is today, every day, 365 days a year! Pick a day and you will find a Special Olympics competition, team practice, school event, fundraising event, and people building inclusion on and off the playing field in their community.
The next time someone asks you
"When is Special Olympics?", you know the answer!
|
|
Game Changer: Volunteer Sam Rausch
|
|
Sam Rausch is 17 years old and has already been a Game Changer for the past four years. Sam volunteers with friends and family at Summer Games in Boston and shares his experience:
"I have participated in a variety of volunteer service opportunities, but nothing has been more rewarding than the Special Olympics. After my first time volunteering in eighth grade at Summer Games, I knew I wanted to be an annual volunteer for this incredible organization. The last three years I have volunteered and I have helped in a variety of ways: helping clock race times, announcing the winners, passing out medals, greeting athletes at the finish line, cheering them on and congratulating them. I continue to volunteer because the experience brings me a lot of joy. The opportunity to help others feel good about themselves, make them feel like the most important person in the world, make new friends, and enjoy yourself is too rewarding to pass up on.
I have had students with special needs immersed in my classes since the first grade at Glover School, and have more friends as a result. I have learned that a disability will not hold anyone back from accomplishing anything, everyone has challenges in life, some are just more severe than others. The athletes I have met at the Special Olympics have impacted my life significantly and given me a new perspective on acceptance and compassion, as well as being grateful for what I have.
From the Special Olympics, I have learned that social inclusion can mean the world to individuals who may feel lonely or too shy to interact with others. It’s amazing what a high five, a handshake, a hug or even just a smile can do to someone else. Applying this to my daily life only requires a little bit of effort, but it meant a great deal more to others.
Volunteering with the Special Olympics helped me incorporate the values of tolerance, respect, and compassion into my daily life on an even grander scale. Being a volunteer allows me to meet individuals I may never meet, who are amazing and never fail to impress me through their willpower and motivation.
The ability I have to change lives at this event is the reason why I am a volunteer, and I look forward to being back in June. I actually feel I get more out of my interaction with the athletes than I give to them. I am thankful to them for this gift."
|
|
Join the conversation
#ChooseToInclude
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
